This series is like 2 heavyweight boxers going at it. Both teams hammering each other. Toronto keeps coming back despite all of the punishment the team has endured. This series has engulfed both cities with hockey pride.

Does the Party Hard video they play before the games get anyone else all fired up? I can't stand the song but love the way it is used.

It is unfathomable that the Leafs are still around at this point, with the possibility of eliminating Ottawa tomorrow night. Last night, they were missing 7 of their regulars, and the team looked more like the St.John's Maple Leafs than anything else.

There's no reason to think Toronto can win tomorrow, but try telling them that. Gary Roberts is from another planet, the way he's been playing.

Despite what Ric Flair says, a healthy Leafs team is the only team that can truly match up w/ ANY of the teams still left in the West.

As much as I would LOVE to see a Carolina/San Jose series in the Finals, a series that would truly be a battle of legendary franchise's, if anyone is going to beat anyone in the West, it's going to be Toronto.

They've become the team of destiny in this year's playoffs, showing the grit, character, and integrity that are so lacking in pro sports these days. They have had every excuse to just lay down and go treat their injuries, but they've battled back against every adversity they've faced.

And while I have nothing against the Senators, the city of Ottawa has been very "jackass-ish" in their anti-Toronto sentiment. So it'd be nice to beat them for that alone.

But I wouldn't want to face Carolina in the semis. Yeesh, they look strong.

Who will Don Cherry, Bob Cole, and Harry Neale blatantly and unprofessionally root for on air? :)

I am not a big Leafs fan, but I hardly see Cole and Neale "rooting" for the Leafs. The problem is that they cover nothing but the Leafs all year, so they know more about them than any other team. This is obvious when they are announcing, especially Neale.

As for Cherry, he has never ever hidden the fact that he is a Leaf fan. Just like he has never hidden that he loves those good-ole-Kingston boys...

Who the hell cares if they root for a team on the air, anyway. You sound like the Mayor of Ottawa...

Anyhow, should be a very interesting game tonight. I have no idea what to expect. I thought the Leafs goose was cooked after they lost Game 1, then game 5... Shows what can happen when a team sticks together and plays tough.

Like I said in the Avs thread - I live for Game 7's - used to travel to Toronto on business about once a quarter and I always scheduled an hour in the middle of the day to go see the Hockey Hall of Fame and even the food was nothing to write home about, I always stopped into Gretzky's for a drink and a sandwich

and like I said at the top - Here's hoping for a Leafs win in Double OT - no, make that Triple OT (my 8am meeting in NYC tomorrow just got pushed to Friday.....)

Cherry's biggest hard-on is for Yzerman-every coach's corner has a collection of clips showing how hard Yzerman is working with a bad ankle(I think that's the injury). Not that Yzerman doesn't deserve it, he's been playing incredibly this playoff season. If the Leafs go out tonight, I'd bet Cherry would cover the Western conference finals, with Hrudey doing the Eastern games.

Originally posted by The GoonTHEY DID IT.It is unbelievable. There is no quit in these Leafs at all.

What do you mean they need some major changes? They played great hockey, but got beaten in game 7 by a team that just wouldn't die and was pretty much the underdog (albeit a pitbull) for most of the series.That can get into the minds of a team, and as a result they might not play up to their abilities..

I believe the Sens are going places..If not this year then maybe next..

I like the guy, but I'm thinking the Sens brass are going to remove Jacques Martin. It's three years in a row they've been unable to get past the Leafs, and this year, it was a severely depleted Leaf squad.

I think both Ottawa and Montreal can take a major step next year with a couple of key players-Ottawa needs a skilled veteran, ie. a Gilmour or Roberts, and I think Montreal will build on their experience.

Where were Hossa, Bonk, Arvedson, McEachern and Havlat during the playoffs? I watched every game against the Leafs and you never heard their names mentioned at all. It's one thing to have a single guy who disappears during the playoffs, but to have 2 lines worth of guys disappear is terrible.

As for Montreal, they seemed to do it with mirrors. The team just does not seem to have a lot of offensive skill. If it were not for Theodore they would've been gone in 4 in the first round... They need more than a little tinkering.

The Leafs, well what can you say... When they needed to step it up, they did. Unbelievable heart on this team. They were blocking shots all over the place, throwing their bodies around like crazy. They seem to be destiny's team this year, although Carolina really scares me for some reason.